CANBERRA: Dr Melanie O’Brien, President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), is visiting Canberra from Perth, Western Australia, to participate in the inaugural Joint Justice Initative Advocacy Week at Federal Parliament.
O’Brien is an Associate Professor of International Law at the UWA Law School, University of Western Australia, and the President of the foremost global historical authority on genocides, the International Association of Genocide Scholars.
As the first Australian to hold the presidency, O’Brien has worked closely with the local Armenian, Assyrian and Greek community organisations in Australia, having keynoted the 2018 National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide as well as commemorative events held by the Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities.
The Joint Justice Initiative Advocacy Week seeks to build momentum for Australian recognition of the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides ahead of the 108th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. O’Brien’s presence will provide parliamentarians with groundbreaking and unique insights from her recent book From Discrimination to Death: Genocide Process Through a Human Rights Lens, which heavily focuses on the 1915 Genocide.
“We are delighted Dr O’Brien is our inaugural guest for the JJI Advocacy Week," commented ANC-AU Executive Director Michael Kolokossian.
“Australian parliamentarians will benefit from her wealth of knowledge on the genocide, being one of the foremost scholars on this issue. We are proud to have an Australian leading in this space and believe Dr O’Brien will assist us greatly on our advocacy journey,” added Kolokossian.
Assyrian National Council - Australia President Mr Hermiz Shahen, who is participating in the inaugural Joint Justice Initiative Advocacy Week said: “Dr O’Brien provides valuable insights and information about past genocides, including their causes and consequences, as well as the most effective ways to prevent and respond to them. Her presence lends credibility to our request, the discussions and help ensure that decisions made are grounded in sound academic research and analysis.”
Over the next few days, Dr Melanie O’Brien will meet with over a dozen parliamentarians from both Federal chambers, including Mike Freelander MP, Matt Burnell MP, Peter Khalil MP, Senator Jane Hume, Senator Simon Birmingham, Senator Hollie Hughes, Zoe Daniel MP, Senator Mathew O'Sullivan, Anne Webster MP, Anne Stanley MP, Josh Burns MP, Jerome Laxale MP, Sophie Scamps MP, Peter Khalil MP and Michael Sukkar MP to discuss Australian recognition of the 1915 Genocides committed by the Ottoman Empire.
“Being part of this Joint Justice Initiative delegation is an important way that I can represent the International Association of Genocide Scholars. Our members conduct scholarly work with the goal of preventing and punishing genocide and aim for our work to influence policy and lawmakers,” O’Brien said.
“It is crucial that Australia recognises the Genocides of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire by the Ottomans/Turks, to acknowledge the reality of the crimes committed against the victims, survivors and their descendants - some of whom are Australian citizens - and to contribute to the prevention of future genocides,” O’Brien added.
